HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – Deneka Duerson, owner of the new Fun Zone in Hopkinsville, spent ten years working in childcare, and always had dreams of opening her own daycare. After a few hurdles prevented her from seeing it through, she ultimately saw Hopkinsville’s need for family entertainment and decided to open an indoor playground with her own funds.
“This is the first time I’ve stepped out in faith that it’s going to work out,” said Duerson. “I also wanted a place for my own kids to be able to come to and play and enjoy themselves.”
Fun Zone had their soft opening on Jan. 19. The vibrant indoor space has a soft play area for younger kids and infants, a play village, rock climbing wall, ball pit, inflatable bouncer, a video game system and lots of toys. Although they are officially open, she still has a few things to tweak and finish before a grand opening is announced.
“There’s still a lot of things that I’m planning on doing, so I’m hoping that everything is together within a month,” Duerson told Christian County Now. “I’m so grateful and blessed.”
Although she is in awe of the large turnout so far, the success is bittersweet due to a recent loss in the family. The father of her two oldest children died in a car accident just two weeks ago.
“This place has really been holding us all together,” Duerson shared when speaking about the loss. “Without the support of the community, I probably wouldn’t have made it…and it just brings joy to my heart to see the parents and the children laughing.”
Fun Zone is located at 1015 Skyline Drive in Hopkinsville, and through Feb. 2, admission is only $8.80. Waivers are required to play and can be found on the Fun Zone website.